Pylons

ABSTRACT

A process of erection of a temporary pylon and a carriage used for such erection is disclosed. Erection of a temporary pylon is obtained by stacking and joining sections which are in the form of straight prisms having a polygonal base. The invention is characterized by a support for guiding the mast which serves the purpose of putting the prismatic sections into place by a vertical climbing movement over the whole height of the pylon, so as to bring the structural sections successively to the top of the pylon.

United States Patent [151 3,662,504 Gueguen [4 1 May 16, 1972 [54] PYLONS 1,667,440 4/1928 Scannell ..52/l23 X [72] Inventor: Michel M. F. Gueguen, La Tuilerie, StprimaryExaml-ner A|fred RGuesK NomlaBreteche France AIl0rney-William Anthony Drucker [22] Filed: Mar. 10, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 18,040

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Mar. 11, 1969 France ..6906806 [52] US. Cl ..52/123 58 Field of Search ..52/749, 745, 747, 121, 122, 52/123 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,354,599 11/1967 Martina", ..52/122 x [5 7] ABSTRACT A process of erection of a temporary pylon and a carriage used for such erection is disclosed.

Erection of a temporary pylon is obtained by stacking and joining sections which are in the form of straight prisms having a polygonal base.

The invention is characterized by a support for guiding the mast which serves the purpose of putting the prismatic sections into place by a vertical climbing movement over the whole height of the pylon, so as to bring the structural sections successively to the top of the pylon.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENIEDHAY 15 I972 sum 2 [IF 4 PATENTEDHM 15 I972 SHEET H []F 4 PYLONS The invention applies to temporary pylons that can serve for example for surveillance and lookout, such as for: the prevention of forest fires, prospecting, geodesic surveys astronomical observations, direct view communication such as a radio antenna and the like.

The invention relates to a process of erection of a temporary pylon amenable to rapid erection and takedown, and if need be provided at its top with a platform.

Such a pylon can reach a height of 80 to 100 meters for example and its vertical stability is secured by stays, suitably arranged.

A process of erection of a temporary pylon is described by stacking and joining modular sections, each having the form of a straight prism frustum with a polygonal base. The process includes the use of an external lifting contrivance for raising the sections, and a pivoting guide mast borne by a support crane shifted from section to section, such mast projecting above the last joined section and being designed to receive a new section and to permit the placement of such section.

The known system requires both for erection and for taking down the pylon, the use of an external lifting contrivance that has a lifting height substantially greater than the height of the pylon to be erected. If what is involved is a pylon of a height of I meters or more, one readily sees the difficulty that follows. The placement of such an external lifting contrivance and the operation of such a contrivance render certain personnel necessary over and above the erection crew for the pylon alone.

Hence the prior art process is very costly in point of labor and equipment.

One purpose of the present invention is to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks. The process according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the support means of the guiding mast lends itself to the execution of a vertical climbing movement upon and over the whole length of the pylon by integral drive means, in such a way as to ensure, in addition to the guiding preceding the erection of a new section, the transportation of such section from the ground all the way to the temporary top of the pylon.

The invention likewise concerns the support means for the guiding mast, which is a carriage preferably provided with at least four rollers, two upper rollers and four lower rollers rolling upon rails which are part of the faces of the prismatic sections, such upper and lower rollers being inclined in opposite directions, in such a way as to roll without slipping and without wedging, respectively upon the inner and outer flanges of the guide rails and in such a way as to counterpoise the torque of the carriage.

In the attached drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a pylon that is formed by the stacking of straight triangular prisms;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of one of the three faces, the assembling of which makes it possible to obtain a triangular straight prism or one having any particular polygonal base;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a length of pylon having the form of a straight triangular prism frustum;

FIG. 4 is a view in plan of a length of pylon with a triangular base;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of a rapid mode of assembling the faces of the straight prism frustum having a polygonal base;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the carriage that bears the guiding mast; and

FIG. 7 is a view in plan of the carriage, cut according to the axis A-A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 1 shows a general view of a temporary pylon according to the invention, that is to say made up of sections in the form of straight prisms l stacked and capped, if need by, by a platform 2.

The pylon is maintained by a series of stays 3 carefully anchored to the ground by suitable retaining means, for example winches 4 that permit ready regulation of the tension of the stays.

A section is obtained by the joining of at least three rectangular metal parts or faces of prismatic shape, formed by light tubular elements, assembled by welding or bolting or assembled so as to impart to each part and to the pylon a structure that will not lose its shape. Each part (FIG. 2) is composed of two tubular vertical uprights, 5, 5' connected by horizontal crossbars 6, the rectangles thus formed containing the bars of a triangle 7. The lower end of the risers is provided with locking fingers 8 that in the course of assembly penetrate the cylindrical sockets 9 of the upper parts of the tubular uprights of a part situated below. Along the tubular uprights lengths of angle irons 10 are secured or welded which serve as roller rails, as will be explained herein.

These angle irons have a length slightly smaller than the length of the uprights. The edge of a wing 10a is welded along an upright, the other wing 10b being parallel to the corresponding part and in front of the wing 10b it is fastened upon the other upright of the same part. v

Along each riser elements of angle irons 1 land 12a, 12b are welded, making is possible to connect several parts by a temporary fastener for example of the cylindrical type 13 (see FIG. 5). Y

The joining of at least three parts or faces makes it possible to execute a straight triangular prism (see FIGS. 3 and 4), forming an elementary section of the pylon to be constructed.

On the inside of each length a ladderbar 13' is introduced, getting support by legs 13a upon two horizontal crossbars 6 of one face of the prism.

The mast-bearing carriage is shown in FIG. 6. It comprises a frame 14 formed by two vertical uprights 15 in sectional shapes, joined by two crossbars 16a and 16b, two inclined sectional shapes 17a and 17b, conferring upon the frame the necessary rigidity. The lower crossbar 16b bears a socket 18 supporting a pivoting mast 19, this mast being kept in vertical position by a collar 20 integral with the upper crossbar 16a. To the right and through the two crossbars upper and lower brackets are mounted, inclined in opposite direction 21 and 22.

The upper brackets 21 each bear the pair of upper rollers 23a and 23b. The lower brackets 22 each bear the pair of lower rollers 24a and 24b.

'The rollers are made up of edges 25 with throat 26 made out of steel, mounted for rotation, with if need be, a ball'bearing or roller bearing 27, around an axis28 perpendicular to the inclined face of the corresponding bearer bracket 21 or 22. By dint of the inclination that ensues therefrom for the rollers, the throats or grooves 26 come to straddle obliquely the wing 10b in front of the angle irons of one same section serving for the guidance and support of the carriage 14, the upper rollers 23 coming to bear on the inner face 26a, of their throat 26 upon the inside of the wing of angle iron 10b, the lower rollers 26b, coming on the other hand to bear on the face 26b of their throat 26 upon the outside of the wing of angle iron 10b. In view of the fact that the inner angle of the angle irons presents an over-thickness, the rollers 26a of the throat of the upper rollers will be chamferedas shown on FIG. 7.

With this arrangement of the rollers the torque of the carriage that bears a new section to be mounted is thoroughly neutralized by the reciprocal action of the angle iron rails and of the rollers for guidance and maintenance.

The rollers roll constantly without slipping and without becoming wedged. The arrangement of the pulleys in pairs offers two advantages:

In the first place greater safety in case of rupture of an axis 28 roller support, and secondly there is a rollers in contact all the time with the path of guidance which avoids discontinuities between or among the sections, the successive angle irons presenting between or among them a necessary free play for the ready erection of the pylons.

The top portion of the guiding mast and the means whereby a face of prismatic length is fastened are now shown, they are identical to those of the known art, as is the means of actuation of the carriage, which can be made up of a cable hoist with a lower reversing sheave, fastened to the base of the pylon and an upper reversing sheave successively displaced at the maximum heightof the pylon obtained.

The erection of a pylon, in accordance with the invention, is accomplished in the following manner:

In the first place the erection of at least a first length is undertaken, by joining at least three metal parts section driving pegs 13 into the coupling hinges 11 and 12 and the three parts are mounted preferably flat and folded back and arranged so as to form a straight triangular prism when assembled. The ladder 13 is engaged on the inside of the prism, against one face, this ladder being maintained by the legs 13a upon the crossbars 6 of the said face.

Likewise the guide rail b of one of the other faces of the prismatic section engages the carriage 14 for transport and assembly guidance. It suffices to slide the throats 26 of the rollers upon the wings 10b in front of the angle irons 10, in a rolling path. The whole is straightened outso as to erect the prismatic section to the vertical position upon the desired spot and one begins to lay stays 3 around this section in order to stabilize the structure in the course of hoisting and placement of the second section.

Likewise the cable, the hoise and the drive sheaves of the carriage are put into place.

One proceeds as previously with the erection of a second section, an inner ladder is arranged and fixed and this section is straighted so that one side stands against the projecting part 19' of the mast 19 of the carriage. The section is fixed to the mast by fasteners not described that are provided for such purpose and the hoist for raising the carriage is set in motion.

When the second section has arrived at a point sufiiciently high so that it can pivot freely upon the first section, it is brought by pivoting into engagement with the first section. A slight downward movement of the hoist then enables the fingers 8, situated at the lower part of the uprights of the second section to engage the sockets 9 of the upper part of the uprights of the first section.

The second section of the mast 19 is removed and the hoist is made to operate in an opposite direction in order to cause the mast-bearing carriage 14 to go down again. At the top of the second section the upper reversing sheave of the cable of the hoist is shifted and then by operating as previously one can proceed with the lifting and the assembling of the successive sections.

In summary, if need be the pylon is capped with an observation platform 2, hoisted and mounted in the same way as the prismatic sections.

The carriage remains part of the pylon up to the time of the dismounting, which is carried out in a manner that is the reverse of the manner of the erection and is as convenient.

Needless to say, various modifications can be made in the pylon and its carriage, described and shown, without any departure from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A pylon tower composed of plural and joined sections, each section having the form-of a single prism with a polygonal base, and comprising: a plurality of panels formed by parallel uprights connected by crossbars, and at least a panel of one side of each section having along its uprights rails provided with guiding parts directed outwardly, a running chassis with lower and upper rollers mounted on said rails; and a mast for a crane mounted on said chassis, the crane being adapted for lifting, an additional section, which is flat and folded back, to the top of the previously erected section.

2. A tower as in claim 1 in which the upper and lower rollers are inclined in opposite directions, so as to run respectively upon the inner and outer flangesof the guiding parts of the rails and to counterpoise the torque of the chassis.

3. A tower as claimed in claim 1, in which the rollers are arranged in pairs in the direction of displacement, so that the guiding parts of the rails do not become placed edge to edge. 

1. A pylon tower composed of plural and joined sections, each section having the form of a single prism with a polygonal base, and comprising: a plurality of panels formed by parallel uprights connected by crossbars, and at least a panel of one side of each section having along its uprights rails provided with guiding parts directed outwardly, a running chassis with lower and upper rollers mounted on said rails; and a mast for a crane mounted on said chassis, the crane being adapted for lifting, an additional section, which is flat and folded back, to the top of the previously erected section.
 2. A tower as in claim 1 in which the upper and lower rollers are inclined in opposite directions, so as to run respectively upon the inner and outer flanges of the guiding parts of the rails and to counterpoise the torque of the chassis.
 3. A tower as claimed in claim 1, in which the rollers are arranged in pairs in the direction of displacement, so that the guiding parts of the rails do not become placed edge to edge. 